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Didrachm - Magas
| Issuer | Kyrene (Kyrenaica) |
|---|---|
| Year | 300 BC - 275 BC |
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| Currency | Chian-Rhodian drachm |
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| Obverse description | Diademed head of Zeus Ammon facing right, rendered in fine Hellenistic style with characteristically curling hair adorned with a laurel wreath and small horns above the brow, evoking the syncretic deity worshipped at Cyrene. The portrait is modelled in high relief with carefully articulated facial features, including a prominent nose and delicately rendered curls framing the face and neck. The field is plain, with the portrait nearly filling the flan. The workmanship reflects the accomplished die-cutting tradition of the Cyrenaean mint during the early third century BC. |
|---|---|
| Obverse script | Greek |
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| Additional information |
Magas served as governor of Kyrene under his half-brother Ptolemy I before declaring independence around 276 BC, transforming the city into a rival Hellenistic court. This didrachm was struck during the precise window of that political transition — when Kyrene's mint was reasserting an identity distinct from Ptolemaic Egypt. Magas ruled until roughly 250 BC, making the closing date of this issue's production likely tied to his formal break with Alexandria rather than any change in local administration.